A public health emergency was declared in New Delhi Tuesday as a choking blanket of smog descended on the world's most polluted capital city.&nbsp;The Indian Medical Association declared an "emergency" as the US embassy website said levels of the fine pollutants known as PM2.5 that are most harmful to health reached 703 - well over double the threshold of 300 that authorities class as hazardous.

The national capital woke up to a cold foggy morning on Tuesday with visibility dropping to 200 metre at 8.30am. The average air quality index (AQI) also hit 396 (very poor) at 8am, which further peaked by 9.30am to 403 indicating severe pollution level. This is the second time the Capital has hit severe category since Diwali. However, Met officials responding to queries said Delhi was witnessing a spell of fog and not smog.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board, individual stations in Delhi-NCR recorded AQIs as high as 446 at 9.30am. Out of 19 monitoring stations in NCR, 12 recorded severe air quality. The lowest AQI was in Gurgaon at 357 at 9.30am, which is classified as very poor.

Delhi air pollution sets alarm bells ringing, shuts down primary schools, hits flights, trainsThe National Capital Region was engulfed in a toxic haze on Tuesday, with the worst pollution levels this season reducing visibility, disrupting flights and trains, and forcing the Delhi government and central authorities to announce a slew of emergency measures to minimise health hazards.

On social media, people posted images of low visibility in Delhi-NCR. “Alarming level of smog in Delhi. Any decent govt would have shut down the city. Stay safe, stay indoors (sic)!” a Twitter user said.

#Delhi: Visuals of #smog from #IndiaGate and #Rajpathpic.twitter.com/d3rWHXbyU1

— Ratnesh Mishra (@06_ratnesh) November 7, 2017

According to the graded response action plan, when AQI hits severe levels, agencies including the state pollution control committees, municipal corporations, transport departments, and resident welfare associations are supposed to take counter measures. These include, enhancing public transport services with differential pricing to encourage off-peak hour travel, and increasing the frequency of mechanized cleaning of roads and sprinkling of water on roads.

Delhi Schools Closed Till Sunday, Minister Says 'Air Situation Deteriorating'Delhi woke up on Wednesday to a second day of haze as pollution spiked, with residents reporting smarting eyes and an irritation in the nose and throat. The air quality index, which measures the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the air, hit the "severe" level of 451 on a scale where the maximum reading is 500 and anything above 100 is considered unhealthy.

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Areas close to Shadipur, in west Delhi, had the worst air quality at 9.30am, with a severe AQI of 446. The primary pollutant here was PM2.5, which is considered a finer and more dangerous pollutant.

Anand Vihar area, which is usually highly polluted, also had severe air quality with an AQI of 405. However, the primary pollutant here was PM10.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said visibility in the capital was at 200m around 5.30am on Tuesday, and it had not improved till 8.30am. “It may clear up by 10.30am,” a Met official said adding that temperatures had dropped to 17 degrees Celsius early on Tuesday.

In Noida, AQI was 430 at 9.30am. Low visibility in the city resulted in slow traffic. Long traffic queues were seen on the Delhi-Noida-Delhi Flyway and Noida-Greater Noida expressway from 8am as the rush hour for work began.

“It usually takes me 20 minutes to cover the DND but today, I drove for 45 minutes today,” said Dhruv Gupta, a Jangpura based IT professional.

Noida Traffic Police said that traffic congestion was noticed near the Noida Gate and sector 16 A flyover. “Due to low visibility, there was traffic congestion. However, we are trying to clear roads as soon as possible,” said Layak Singh, traffic inspector, Noida Police.

Areas close to Shadipur, in west Delhi, had the worst air quality at 9.30am, with a severe AQI of 446. The primary pollutant here was PM2.5, which is considered a finer and more dangerous pollutant.

The fog condition began on Monday night as mist covered the city and pollution levels shot up. Reports also poured in that visibility was at its lowest in several parts of the city and the hazy air could even be spotted inside Delhi Metro stations.

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder refuses to meet Arvind Kejriwal, says has no time .
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